Radiant Wisdom Tarot Review

In the interest of full disclosure, I was given a copy of this deck by its creator and asked to give an honest review.

First Impression

The quality is great. The set is in lovely packaging. The cards are nice stock and they feel durable.

The colors are fantastic! The first thing I noticed as I opened the package were the colors that felt upbeat and vivid without being overpowering. It has a variety of uplifting colors throughout the whole deck, living up to the “radiant” in its title. Artistically speaking, this deck is appealing, it draws you in and makes you want to really look at each card. The contrast and the feel of the artwork is lovely. The deck is very large – 92 cards to be exact.

The set comes with a full-sized book that is very detailed. It explains the purpose of the deck, gives detailed explanations of each card and also shares various spreads in the back. There is also information on how to use various colors, stones, and chakras to help you embody the wisdom's shared in the cards. Many Tarot decks do not have books or other tools of this caliber issued with them. This is a definite plus. The set also came with a lovely bag for storing the cards – a very nice touch!

Exploring the Deck

I love that this deck is multicultural in nature and that it provides a spiritual approach to life taken from the wisdom of many. Flipping through the deck the first time, you'll notice representations of people of many colors and a variety of symbolism. What I truly enjoyed is how simple the deck is while still embracing so many elements. There is no “clutter” - the artwork is very clean and although it's simple, it's still very engaging.

Some decks get a little carried away when they try to embrace too many things at once and it leaves the reader confused and makes the deck feel “overdone” - not so with this deck.

The author is very thorough in the book, describing the many ways this deck can be used to highlight creativity, as a conduit for energy healing work with the chakras and as a way to work towards manifestation. I am a big proponent of universal laws, particularly learning to be a co-creator of our own destiny. In this deck, the author has developed a new minor arcana suit; the suit of bridges. It's purpose is to show the user how to use inspired intention to develop real world results. What a great concept. You can use this particular group of cards individually or as a part of the entire deck.

Her card definitions are separated into several categories, which at first glance, may seem confusing, particularly to those new to using Tarot. However, once you get into her explanations, you can see how all the elements tie together and it gives more depth to the cards overall. For example, she uses a key phrase that is the foundation energy of the card; then there is a list of corresponding attributes. There is also a set of alternate meanings, astrological correspondences, colors you can wear to embody the energy of the card, stones to use etc. This is where things may cross into the complicated, but overall there is a depth to the explanations that I really find useful. I like that they impart wisdom but leave room for the reader to really ponder the possibilities. I believe the intent was to create a tool with many purposes and this certainly does that.

I am truly enjoying working with this deck. My favorite elements are the “ease” and “effort” aspects. I truly believe that how we think and how we direct our energy is a part of our creative process. We are truly artists in our own lives and many people do not realize the power they have to create their own destiny. These sections explain how to relax into the energy the card represents, and also how to be proactive and make efforts that help embody those energies.

The drawback to this deck for me personally is the large size of the cards. This is not a flaw in the deck itself, but more a personal preference. I am a very petite person with very small hands and I actually struggle a bit to shuffle this deck. The cards are wide and there are 92 instead of the 78 in a standard deck. It doesn't fit nicely in my hands, but that truly does not take away from the loveliness and usefulness of the deck at all. I will still continue to use and enjoy it.

Otherwise, I think this deck has something to offer any reader, new or seasoned alike. It provides a truly empowering and interesting perspective with every card. This is one deck I can say in all honesty works to truly empower the individual and encourage awareness and personal growth on many fronts. I would definitely recommend it.